NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seen as avoiding meeting President Donald Trump since the India-Pakistan military standoff and its curious ceasefire in May, was headed for Johannesburg on Thursday after the US president said he was boycotting the summit in South Africa.
The Kolkata-based Telegraph said Mr Modi had avoided the last two multilateral platforms where the US president was present — the Asean summit in Malaysia and Trump’s Gaza Peace summit in Egypt — “resulting in speculation that the prime minister was trying to avoid a meeting with the American leader till the India-US trade deal is finalised”.
Mr Trump has decided to boycott the summit over differences with the host country on the agenda and alleged mistreatment of white people in the Rainbow Nation by the Cyril Ramaphosa government.
The external affairs ministry on Wednesday confirmed Modi’s participation in the G20 leaders’ summit.
Mr Trump has slammed the host nation’s agenda for the November 22-23 summit of promoting solidarity and helping developing nations adapt to worse weather disasters, transition to clean energy and cut their excessive debt costs.
This is the first time a G20 summit is being held in Africa. Mr Trump wants South Africa out of the G20 and all other such groupings, The Telegraph said.
Since the G20 is not a grouping created by a treaty, member countries are admitted by consensus and can be removed in the same manner, resulting in Russia remaining in the G20 despite calls for its expulsion over the Ukraine war.
Embarking on his three-day trip, Mr Modi said he will present India’s perspective at the forum in line with its vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’.
“Will be attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a particularly special summit as it is being held in Africa. Various global issues will be discussed there. Will be meeting various world leaders during the summit,” Mr Modi posted on X.
On the margins of the summit, Mr Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg.
He is visiting South Africa from November 22-23 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the 20th G20 leaders’ summit under South Africa’s Presidency.
“This will be a particularly special summit given that it would be the first G20 summit being held in Africa. During India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20,” Mr Modi said in his statement.
“During the visit, I also look forward to my interaction with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, which is one of the largest outside India,” he added.
Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2025